Five Killed in Train–Van Collision at Rural Mississippi Crossing
Authorities in Stone County, Mississippi, say five people were killed Friday, March 27, 2026, when a Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train struck a van at a rural rail crossing near Wiggins, about 45 miles northwest of Biloxi. Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry identified the dead as driver Ryan C. Peterson, 26; front-seat passenger Kristina Carver, 45; Carver’s daughters Emley Chamblee, 22, and Sarabeth Chamblee, 20; and 23-year-old Demarcus Perkins. A sixth occupant, a 23-year-old woman, survived and was airlifted to a hospital; no injuries were reported on the train. The Stone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances of the crash, while the railroad issued a statement offering condolences but providing no details on warning devices or train speed. The wreck underscores ongoing concerns about safety at rural grade crossings, where limited visibility and sparse protections can turn a single mistake into a mass-casualty event.
📌 Key Facts
- Five people in the van were killed in the March 27, 2026 collision near Wiggins, Mississippi.
- The victims include driver Ryan C. Peterson, 26, and passengers Kristina Carver, 45, her daughters Emley and Sarabeth Chamblee, and Demarcus Perkins, 23.
- A 23-year-old female passenger survived and was airlifted to a hospital; no one on the Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train was injured.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, there were 2,201 grade crossing collisions in the United States, resulting in 272 deaths and 824 injuries.
Study Finds Race-based Disparities in Railroad Safety — University of Maryland Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Black and Latinx communities are more likely to live near higher-risk railroad grade crossings with more incidents compared to White communities.
Study Finds Race-based Disparities in Railroad Safety — University of Maryland Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
In the United States, the fatality rate on rural roads is almost 1.4 times higher than on urban roads, with 40% of all roadway fatalities occurring on rural roads.
Rural Transportation Statistics — Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Stone County, Mississippi, has a population that is approximately 76% White and 18% Black or African American.
Stone County, Mississippi - U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau
Black and Hispanic Americans have higher traffic fatality rates per mile traveled than White Americans across the transportation system.
Disparities in Activity and Traffic Fatalities by Race/Ethnicity — NACTO
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